Duplex strainer



June 22, 1954 J. T. vooRHEls DUPLX STRAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 20, 1948 FIJI-3 1- J. T. VOORHEIS June 22, 1954 DUPLEX STRAINER 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1948 l June 22, 1954 J. T. vooRHEls 2,681,736

DUPLEX STRAINER Filed Aug. 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED STATES PT OFFICE DUPLEX STRAINER Joseph T. Voorheis, Piedmont, Calif., assignor to The Coen l Company, San

Francisco, Calif., av

corporation of'Califrna Application August20, 194'8`g1Serial'No. 45,370

1l Claim.'

for cleaning and restoration to original straining condition. When the operatingstrainer becomes substantially clogged or just prior thereto; the

mechanism isoperatedin such aWay that the' previously cleanedf idle strainer is again positioned in the" fluid line, Whilethe operating strainer is'removed.. from functioning.- In this way the fluid flow can continue uninterruptedly While a strainer isavailable `for cleaning periodcally:

Inl many installations, the pressure of the-liquidis'not particularly-high and no especial problems arise butdifculty arises in providingastrainer for relatively` high pressure lines; especially lines of considerable size.

It is rtherefore the object of my' invention toprovide a duplexstrainer suitable for use 'in high pressure lines; especially* those of considerable capacity.

Another objectof-V the invention is to provide aduplex strainer in which there is an interlock so that'only the-strainer not in use and at 10Wl pressure" can beremoved rior cleaning.

An additional object of the invention is to provide-a duplex strainer of fabricated construction.

A further object'ofthe invention is to 'provide' a duplex strainer for use in high pressure linesinwhich the power required or effort required to shift operation from one strainer tothe other is relatively small and can readily be accomplished by an attendant;V

An additional object of :the invention is toprovide-a duplex strainer in which the portion under high pressure cannot-accidentally'be opened to theatmospherefand in which the portion of the strainer available for opening tothe atmosphere is? isolated from high pressure.

A further'objectof the invention is toprovide a` duplex strainer which can readily be taken apart for inspection, repair; cleaning and replacement of parts.

A further object ofthe invention is in'general tfimprove' strainers' of'th'is character.

Other `objects vtogether-"with the foregoing yare attained inthe'en'ibodim'ent ofthe invention described in the accompanying description and fillust-ratedinY the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l isaview from one side showing a part of my strainer in elevation most ofthe mechanism being brokenfawayand `disclosed inici-oss` section on a vertical medianplane.

Figure 2 is a plan of the dupleXstrainer-shown in Figurev l.

Figure 3V is `a cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line'3-3ofligure 2.

Figure 4 isa detail showing the lower valve, the drawing being a-Y cross-section i on thev line 4-'-4 of YFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail showing the upper valve,

the View being. a cross-section on the line 5452 of'Figure 3;

Figure 6` is a cross-section; the plane of which is' indicated by' the line6'--6` of Figure l.

In its preferred form,-theduplex strainer of my invention comprises avvstrainer body adaptedtobeinstalled in a fluid -line and having a means forfdiverting the incomingfluid to either oftWo strainer chambers and discharging strained fluidA from such chambersV through an outlet. There is provided a valving arrangement to isolate Whichever one of the strainer chambers is not included infthe line `and a pilot valve arrangement-so that the pressure- Within the strainer body can be equalized to permtready manual movement of thevalvingarrangement. Furthermore,'the valving structure is so connected to the strainer structure as to interfere with the removal of the strainer which is operatively: includedin the line and toipermi-t the. removal only. of the strainer Whichis not included in the-line.

The duplex strainer-ofi-my invention is readily fabricated'in man-yfdiiierent -ways in especialfaccordan'celwith` the environment and usage that it is designed for, butit hasbeen successfully incorporated in the form disclosed herein. In this form there is-provided `a strainer body generally designated 6; designed torest on any suitable base (notshown) and providedwvith feet andl 3- so thatit can be appropriately supported and-:fastened thereon'.A The strainer body E includes a centraltubular housing @preferably comprised of a steel section having an inletcluct` l! secured thereto by Welding and an outlet duet zlikewise secured thereto by welding. Flanges i3 and" 14 are provided so that'the body` 6 can be suitably included in a-li'quid-'line (notshown) and can be fastened therein to transmit liquidv through the strainer bodyvwithout'leakage and at high pressure.`

The central shell 9-is`closed 'at its lower en'dby a 'cap tsr-secured thereto bybaf-ring' of welding il andv between its ends "is'spann'ed by an interina mediate partition i8 connected to the sides by a line of welding I9 and dividing the shell 9 into an upper inlet compartment 2| and a lower outlet compartment 22. The barrier i8 is effective substantially to separate the inlet from the outlet l2. rlhe upper end of the shell 9 is enlarged and is secured by a line of welding 23 to a flange 24. A cover-plate 21 is secured to the flange by a plurality of removable fastenings 26 in fluid tight relationship. In fact, the coverplate 21 is preferably provided with an annular groove 28 receiving the up-standing portion of the shell .9 so that a tight engagement is afforded when the fastenings 29 are secure and so that the cap 21 can quite readily be removed upon removal of the fastenings 29.

Disposed symmetrically with respect to the shell 9 are several strainer-well housings. Since in the present instance, there are two of such housings and they are substantially identical, a description of one of them is generally applicable to the other. Each of the housings 3| and 32 is comprised of a steel cylinder closed at its lower end by a cap 33 connected thereto by welding 34 and provided with a drain plug 39. Between its ends, the housing is provided with an annular ledge 91 in eifect dividing the housing into an upper chamber 38 and a lower chamber 39. The upper portion of the housing is provided with a plurality of lugs 4| serving as mounts for fastening studs 42 projecting through the covers 43 and de of the respective housings. Nuts 49 complete the removable fastening arrangements,

There are upper conduits 41 and 48 respectively connected to the housings by welding 49 and extending in coaxial relationship and diametrically into the shell 9. The conduits 41 and 48 terminate with squared ends some distance apart and on opposite sides of the central axis of the shell 9. They establish free communication between the upper chamber 2| of the shell 9 and the upper compartments 38 of the housings 3| and 32. Similarly, lower conduits 52 and 53 are secured respectively to the housings 3| and 32 by lines 54 of Welding and to the shell 9 by similar lines 59 of welding. The conduits 52 and 53 also are coaxial and extend diametrically into the shell 9 terminating in spaced apart relationship on opposite sides of the axis 5| and substantially the same distance apart as are the conduits 41 and 48. The conduits 52 and 53 establish free communication between the lower chamber 22 of the shell 9 and the lower compartments 39 of the housings 3| and 32.

Disposed in the housings are strainer mechanisms generally designated 9|, and since these are identical, a description of one applies also to the other. Resting upon the ledge 31 is a flanged ring 62, to which an outer screen 93 is secured. This screen is any preferred kind of perforate or foraminous sheet and is generally circular cylindrical in contour. At its lower end it is secured to an annulus 64. Resting on the annulus is a ring 6B secured to the lower end of an inner screen 61. A spring clip 68 engages the member 64 and holds the ring 69 in normal engagement with the ring 94 but the spring can be deformed to release the rings 96 and 64 so that the inner screen B1 can be disassembled from the outer screen 63. A reenforcement 69 assists in maintaining the rigidity and mechanical relationship of the lower end of the screens.

The inner screen 61 extends upwardly to a point adjacent the top of the upper compartment 38 where it is substantially closed by a solid disc 1| carrying a central slidable pin 12 prevented from dislodgment by a collar 13. The pin ends in an enlarged head 14 adjacent the cap 43 and in fact is held in abutment with the cap by a spring 19. With this arrangement, the spring 16 is effective when the cap 43 is installed to hold the strainer in position against any substantial ow between the upper compartment 38 and the lower compartment 99 except through the meshes of the strainer itself.

In accordance with my invention, I provide means for alternately connecting either the chamber 3| and its included strainer or the chamber 32 and its associated strainer in the circuit between the inlet and the outlet l2. Disposed within the shell 9 in the plane of the axis 5| but eccentric with respect thereto as shown in Figure 3 is an operating shaft 8| at its lower end reduced in diameter to form a bearing in a strap 82- spanning the walls of the shell 9 and serving as a shaft support. Between its ends the shaft passes through a journal 83 formed by a brace plate 94 overlying a somewhat elongated opening 89 in the central plate i8. The shaft 9| extends through the upper compartment 2| and through the cap plate 21 to a convenient external point. Where it passes through the cap plate 21, the shaft is located by a journal 81 and leakage is precluded by a packing gland 88.

So that the fluid entering the chamber 2| from the inlet can be diverted into either one oi the conduits 41 or 48 and will be precluded from entering the other, I provide a valve generally designated 9| on the shaft 8 I. To hold the valve, there is mounted on the shaft 8| a pair of arms 92 and 93 respectively which are provided adjacent their outer ends with apertures to receive a through shaft 94. The shaft is held against falling by a set screwed collar 99 at its upper end resting on the top arm 92. The shaft 94 can readily be removed upwardly, if desired, to release the valve 9| from its mounting between the arms 92 and 93. Since the shaft 94 may not be quite in alignment with the rest of the structure, and in order to provide a proper mechanical relationship with the adjacent ends of the conduits, such as 52 as shown in Figure 4, which serve as valve seats, I mount on the shaft 94 a loosely fitting sleeve 91. This has considerable freedom of movement with respect to the shaft 94 except as it is partially restrained by an inwardly extending annular rib 98 of round crosssectional contour so that in effect, there is a limited universal movement of the sleeve 91 with respect to the shaft 94 so that the sleeve and its attendant parts can assume a slightly different attitude than the shaft 94.

Encompassing the sleeve is a valve body 99 having an enlarged bore |0| extending therethrough to surround the shaft 94 quite freely. The sides of the valve body 99 carry gasket discs |92 and |03 for abutment with the adjacent seat on the end of the conduit 48 or 41. The gaskets are located in position and held for ready renewability by flanged wings |94 and |99 held in place on the body 99 by fastenings |91. As the shaft 8| is rotated through a relatively small angle, either the gasket |92 or the gasket |93 is forced into abutment with the adjacent conduit end. It is able to orient itself to provide a firm, leak-proof contact therewith, despite minor irregularities in the position of the shaft 94 because of the connection through the internal annulus 98. Even so, the pressure exerted by the shaft 94 upon either of the sealing gaskets aes-1,7136* is' applied substantially at the center thereof and is `uniformly distributed.`

Since the pressure within the inlet 'chamber 2 I cann beef. a relatively high` value, a-ndl as the pressure within whichever of` the conduits 41 or'fiil` is closed by thevalve 91, may-be quite low, even atmospheric, andbecause the areaof the valve 9| inl any'largesize equipment Vis considerable, I provide means forl equalizing the pressure on opposite sides of the valve so that thereafter it can readily bedislodged from itsseat. For that reason-,;the sleeve 91 is provided on opposite sides with;a Vpair of poppet or needle valves |08 and |33 respectively designed to` cooperate alternately with] one oi a pair of` plugs I| I engaging one sideoi the disc 99 adjacent thegasket |32 or theother plug H2 engaging the oppositeside otfthe disc adjacent the gasket ID3.` Each of the plugs is provided with an outlet` aperture I i3 and Withi an enlarged clearance I|4 so that except for-seating ofthe needle valveIilBi or |09 therein, there is adequate space for free fluid flow.

The seating of the plugs and the dimensions of 'the-needles are such that one or the other of the needles is open whereas the remaining one isclosed. The arrangement issuch that, when the shaft 8| is initially rotated to dislodge the valve y9|`from its seat, the sleeve 91 closes the previously open valve |09 and opens the previously Closed valve |38. Because of the small size of these parts, there is little diiculty in overcoming the unbalanced pressure thereon. As soon as or shortly after the valve has been opened, however, now through the passageway, for example I|3, effects an equalization of pressures on opposite sides of the main valve 9| which then can be lifted or pulled from its seat with only nominal effort. The valve can thus be removed readily from its seat on either of the conduits 41 or 48.

The lower compartment 22 is likewise provided with a suitable valve IIS so that either of the housings 3| or 32 can be completely isolated from the central shell 9; that is, both its inlet and its outlet can simultaneously be blocked. The valve IIB is disposed between a pair of arms ||1 and H8 extending from the shaft 8|. A pin I|9 provided with a collar |2I extends through suitable apertures in the arms and extends through the generally enlarged center passageway |22 to I the body |23 of the valve. Adjacent its center the passageway |22 is considerably reduced in diameter to form a rounded internal annulus |24 bearing `upon the pin ||9 and affording a limited universal movement or aligning movement between the valve body |23 and the pin. The valve is generally coniined although with some freedom by Washers |26 between the valve body and the adjacent arms. On oppostie sides of the valve disc |23 are gaskets |21 and |28 respectively, held in position by rings :|29 and fastenings I3I. The valve I IS can be moved into sealing and selfaligning relationship with the seat terminals of either of the conduits 52 and 53.

It is not necessary in case of the valve IIB to provide a pilot valve mechanism since the valve IIS operates only at low pressure being in communication with the outlet I2 through the compartment 22. The valves IIE and 9| are, however, aligned as closely as possible so that they simultaneously open and close their respective conduits. By appropriately rocking the shaft 8|. therefore, an operator can readily isolate either of the housings 3| or 32 .and activate the other one by connecting it to the inlet and outlet. At

the same time, the valve structure is readily re movable when the cap 21is removed, since a mere Withdrawal of the shaft 8| disengages its lower end from the strap 82 and the valves are withdrawablethe lower one H6 passing readily through the opening 83. pressure within the compartment 2| urges the closure or brace plate 33 into iiuid tight engagement with the` partition disc I3.

In=order appropriately to actuate the shaft 3|, I provide at its upper end anl operating plate i 33, having a hub I 34 secured to the shaft 3! just above the packing gland 88. The plate rotates with the shaft and carries a pair of up-standing lugs |35 and |36 symmetrically arranged at opposite ends thereof. Journaled on the upper end ofthe shaft 3| is a hub |31 freely rotatable thereon and held against axial dislodgnient upwardly by a cap washer 33 and a cap screw |33. The hub |31 is provided with an extending lever |4| in the general plane of and designed to abut either of the lugs |35 and E36 but having a wide angle of free movement therebetween. When the lever II is rocked in an arc, it abuts iirst the lug |36 and then carries the shaft 3| with it into one: extreme position. When the lever is. moved through its path into its other extreme position, it inally abuts the lug i and rocks plate |33 and the shaft 3| into the other extreme position.

The relatively Wide range of motion of the lever IIII is utilized to afford an interlocking arrangement land there is likewise included a force multiplying mechanism to assist in the valve operation. For that reason the outboard end of the lever |4.I terminates in an ear |42 connected by a pivot pin |33 with a clevis |44 in common with av threaded rod M3. Surrounding and in engagement with the thread is a knurled sleeve |48, at its opposite ends having oppositely directed threaded engagement with a stem |49 enlarged into an eye |5I overlying a boss |52 on the cap fifi. A quite similar boss |53 extends upwardly from the cap 43 in line for engagement with the eye ais'. The eye can be slightly displaced to be disengaged from its associated one of the bosses |52 and |53. The relationship of the lever I4I and its attached mechanism to the cover tf1 is such that the cover cannot be removed until the attachments and the lever have been first taken oli. Since the cover 44 closes the compartment 32 which is in operation under high pressure, there is no possibility of opening such compartment inadvertently. Only the cover 43 can then be removed and its contents inspected or serviced.

When the compartment 32 is to be attended to, the eye ISI is detached from the boss |52 since there is enough play in the clevis |43 to permit such motion and it is then swung with the lever I4! into the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. In the meantime, the knurled sleeve |48 is rotated against the opposite threads |43 and |48 to extend the length of the mechanism and so that the eye |5| can be hooked over the boss 53. At the time the lever I 4| is in abutment with the lug E35 which is still in its full line position as shown in Figure 2. When the eye |5| has been properly hooked, the knurled wheel |38 is 'then rotated and the screws are effective to assist the nal rotation of the lever I 4|. Since this still is in abutment with the boss |35, the entire plate |33 is rotated carrying the shaft 8| and the valves with it. The compartment 32 is thus isolated from the high pressure and the compart- Normally, thel high ment 3l is connected thereto. The sleeve 148 is operated until the valves 9i and H6 are tightly seated with the compartment 32 completely isolated.

With this arrangement, I have provided a duplex strainer effective for high pressure, large quantity installations yet one which can easily be operated manually and one in which there can be no possibility of mistakenly opening the high pressure chamber to the air. Furthermore, the entire arrangement is readily and simply manufactured and repaired since it is fabricated of a number of essentially simple yet strong metallic shapes.

I claim:

A duplex strainer comprising a pair of strainer housings, a central shell, a pair of conduits establishing communication between rsaid housings and said shell, means for connecting said shell to a relatively high pressure, means for connecting said housings to a relatively low pressure, a first main valve disc having a first passage therethrough and adapted to control said communication and subject to said different pressures, a rst pilot valve for controlling communication through said iirst passage between one of said housings and said shell, a second main valve disc having a second passage therethrough and adapted to control said communication and subject to said diiierent pressures, a second pilot valve for controlling communication through said second passage between the other of said housings and said shell, and a common actuator for both of said pilot valves and said main valve discs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 327,803 Lewis Oct. 6, 1385 1,113,441 Hunziker Oct. 13, 1914 1,187,046 De Lamarter June 13, 1916 1,288,257 Stewart Dec. 17, 1918 1,408,822 Mosher Mar, 7, 1922 1,625,024 Hall Apr. 19,1927 1,634,086 Scoville June 28, 1927 1,675,505 McNeal July 3, 1928 1,685,303 Voorheis Sept. 25, 1928 1,758,565 Elliott May 13, 1930 1,850,094 Dean Mar. 22, 1932 1,919,031 Muhleisen July 18, 1933 2,219,137 Moon Oct. 22, 1940 2,540,300 Smith Feb. 6, 1951 

